Crossword Genius

Bid for a chest without a top (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

offer

'bid' is the definition.
(I know that bid can be written as offer)

'a chest without a top' is the wordplay.
'a chest' becomes 'coffer' (coffer is a kind of chest).
'without a top' means to remove the first letter (in a down clue, top can mean the top letter).
'coffer' with its initial letter taken away is 'OFFER'.

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for offer that I've seen before include "Make available for sale" , "Come up with" , "Suggest" , "Propose (to give)" , "Tender - proposal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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